The long-term plan has already started for Liverpool and looks destined to be a success after the £50m FSG move initiated.
The Reds are one of the elite clubs not only in Europe but also globally. Attracting big-name players isn’t a problem for the Merseyside giants over the years.
Moreover, the appointment of vertex manager Jurgen Klopp and his brand of football brings lots of attraction. The German’s recent success with the club makes it more persuasive for top-notch footballers to come to Anfield.
But in recent times it has been observed the club’s investment in time, money and effort into nurturing young talent. Also ensuring they have a clear path to Liverpool’s first-team.
Liverpool Academy can be proud of themselves for achieving glory in recent times in producing an endless supply of talents.
The likes of Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Neco Williams, Rhy Williams and Caoimhin Kelleher have made big names. They all have come through the Reds academy to make in the first team.
Moreover, not to forget world-class right-back Trent Alexander Arnold came through the ranks of the club’s academy.
Meanwhile, last weekend, Liverpool’s game against Shrewsbury Town saw 11 of the 20 players in the matchday squad for the FA Cup tie were academy players.
There was another similar accomplishment in the last UEFA Champions League group stage game at San Siro. Several academy players had their part in the game to win against the giants AC Milan.
Moreover, throughout the Carabao Cup run many youngsters came to light with their performances. And Klopp is likely to again call upon several youngsters for the semi-final first leg against Arsenal on Thursday.
Plus, with the opening of the new AXA Training Centre in late 2020 will definitely boast the club’s long term plans. The training centre opens up the door to the first team for many club’s youngsters.
AXA Training Centre – The pathway to the long-term plan for Liverpool football club
Liverpool hierarchy’s £50m investment in building the training centre brings together the club’s First Team and Academy operations and facilities together on one site.
It is the place to create the future.
And Steve McManaman, a regular presence at the Academy, believes Liverpool are still only scratching the surface of the potential of their long-term plan to optimise the progress of the next generation.
Steve McManaman says:
I don’t think we will have seen the full effect yet as we are still in COVID times and there are bubbles,
They are not fully integrated as of yet, but that they are there training and in the same building – albeit not intermingling fully yet – and it certainly helps in that respect.
If someone gets an injury, the first team coaching staff can just shout across to the next pitch and get a youngster in and have a look at them.
I’ve always thought a full integrated system from top to bottom was the way forward.
It’s a lot easier in the training sessions to organise, rather than being at Melwood and having a couple of injuries and then calling people down from Kirkby and having to travel there.
The Former winger, who himself came through the youth ranks in the late 1980s and early 1990s also added :
You just hope that like when we spoke about Trent Alexander-Arnold six years ago or Curtis Jones two or three years ago, they just need to train with the first team as often as they can,
The more they train with the first team and the more they get used to the pace of first-team football, the more they will improve.
Jurgen brings a lot of the players in for training sessions with the first team and it’s noticeable how many have then jumped into the first team.
The more they play at that elite level and train at the intensity and pace the first team train – such as the quality you have to deal with in marking a Mane, Salah, Firmino or Jota – it will help them a great deal.
I hope they keep on improving, that’s all you can ask for. Not everybody is going to play 50 times for Liverpool’s first team, but the most important thing when you are 16, 17 or 18 is to try and get a career in football.
Seven Academy graduates made their name to get senior debuts this season. In the weekend FA Cup tie, the fans saw the impact of Liverpool’s youngsters at 4-1 triumph over the Srews.
Moreover, in the match, Elijah Dixon-Bonner pass for Conor Bradley to cross low into the area to find 17-year-old Kaide Gordon who then coolly netted his first goal for the club.
This display showcases youngsters development and pathway to achieve long-term plan by Liverpool.
